A big car with a big V8 is as American as, well, a big car with a big engine. A few decades ago, Americans started shifting their focus to SUVs, paying less attention to lower-slung land yachts. As SUVs gained popularity, the V8 remained a big part of the equation. However, eight-cylinder engines have disappeared from popular SUV models as regulations and consumer preferences have shifted toward efficiency. That said, you’re not out of luck if you want a V8 in your three-row SUV in 2026.
Now, let’s say you want the most affordable route to get into a new V8-powered, three-row SUV. Dodge might just have you covered. The Dodge Durango returns for the 2026 model year, and it’s flexing its eight-cylinder muscles at a lower price point than the competition. If that wasn’t enough, the 2026 Dodge Durango is so stubborn about keeping its V8 offerings that it offers three eight-cylinder mills, from the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 in the GT V8 to the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Durango SRT Hellcat.
The 2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 Packs The Power
A Dodge and a V8. The two go together like peanut butter and jelly. Like popcorn and the movies. Like– you get it. Unfortunately, many of the tenured Dodge V8s we know and love went the way of the dodo after the 2023 model year. The Stellantis brand discontinued the Challenger and Charger, and the replacement Dodge Charger neglected to start its production cycle with a V8 under the hood. That left just one V8-powered model in the Dodge lineup for 2024 and beyond: the Durango midsized SUV. Like the discontinued LA-platform Challenger and LD-platform Charger, the Durango offers a library of HEMI V8s.
At the lower trims, the Dodge Durango GT V8 offers a naturally aspirated 360-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V8. But the Durango GT V8’s bragging rights don’t stop at its number of cylinders. As of this writing, the Durango GT V8 and its 5.7-liter heart represent what Dodge proudly touts as “the most affordable AWD V8 in the industry.” In fact, with a starting price of $42,695, it’s the cheapest V8-powered SUV on the market. Unlike the 5.7-liter V8s in the Charger R/T and Challenger R/T, the Durango R/T gets the brand’s naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V8– no SRT 392 or Scat Pack in the Durango lineup. The SRT Hellcat remains at the top of the food chain, with a volcanic, supercharged 6.2-liter V8. Don’t forget to budget for tires.
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Standard All-Wheel Drive
When the previous-generation Dodge Charger and Challenger were around, you couldn’t get a V8 and all-wheel drive pairing. It was either a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with a choice of drivetrains, or a V8 with rear-wheel drive. That’s not the case with the 2026 Dodge Durango. The budget-friendly 2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 packs the smaller of the brand’s naturally aspirated V8s with standard all-wheel drive. See? No need to park the V8 when the bad weather rolls into town. But the added grip does more than lend a more sure-footed ride in inclement weather; it makes for snappier launches.
Heavy, But Oh So Quick
Granted, you won’t need a commercial license to drive a 2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 off the lot. However, with a curb weight of 5,313 pounds, the all-wheel-drive Durango is quite a bit more portly than the HEMI-equipped muscle cars of 2023 and prior. Still, the added weight doesn’t stop the Durango GT V8 from being deceptively quick on its feet.
In testing, the pre-facelift Dodge Durango with the 5.7-liter V8 and all-wheel drive managed to hit 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds. That’s 1.2 seconds quicker than the Durango GT with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. The quarter mile went by in 14.7 seconds with a trap speed of 97 mph. Not exactly sluggish for an SUV that weighs more than 5,300 pounds. Of course, the more potent V8s return quicker acceleration times, even with traction limitations. The 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, for instance, managed to coax its significant 5,534-pound curb weight to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. That’s as quick as an F10 BMW M5, and quicker than a Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R. Again, not too shabby for a big family-hauler.
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Power On A Budget
You can find V8s in new SUVs. That’s not too terribly tricky. However, you’re going to pay for it. Still, for less than the average price of a new car, you can get into a V8-powered, three-row SUV. The 2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 starts at $42,695, around $3,700 less than the entry-level Pentastar-powered Durango GT. Of course, you can opt for the GT Plus V8 or GT Premium V8 for a more opulent driving experience, including ventilated front seats and heated second-row seating. Doing so will bump the starting price up to $46,295 and $49,295, respectively.
2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 Pricing
|
2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 |
$42,695 |
|
2026 Dodge Durango GT Plus V8 |
$46,295 |
|
2026 Dodge Durango GT Premium V8 |
$49,295 |
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Plans to end the Durango’s run in 2026 have reportedly been shelved.
Big Towing Energy
The 2026 Dodge Durango has seating for seven and plenty of cargo volume with the third row folded. And when it comes to towing, every one of the V8-powered Durangos offers 7,200 pounds of towing as standard. That’s 1,000 pounds more than the standard GT with the V6 powerplant. Adding Dodge’s Tow ’N Go package bumps maximum towing up to 8,700 pounds, more than a larger Chevrolet Tahoe. Better yet, Durango buyers can opt for a rear load-leveling suspension at the Plus or Premium trim levels.
2026 Dodge Durango GT V8 Specs
|
Engine |
Naturally Aspirated 5.7-Liter HEMI V8 |
|
Transmission |
8-Speed ZF Automatic Transmission |
|
Horsepower, Torque |
360 HP At 5,150 RPM, 390 LB-FT At 4,250 RPM |
|
Drivetrain |
AWD |
|
Curb Weight |
5,313 LBS |
|
Towing Capacity |
Up To 8,700 LBS |
Dodge Continues Milking The Durango With New 2026 HEMI Variants, SRT Hellcat Confirmed
The Durango remains one of the few ways to get your HEMI fix.
So, Should You Buy One?
If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest way to get into a V8-powered SUV, the Dodge Durango GT V8’s $44,690 starting price is without equal in the 2026 new vehicle market. For that money, you get the most affordable V8 SUV you can buy, complete with three rows, standard all-wheel drive, and enough towing capacity to pull a car trailer comfortably. However, the Durango’s interior is showing signs of aging, and the V8 trims swill fuel rather than sip it. That much is especially true with the Durango SRT Hellcat trims. And while you can’t find a comparable V8 in the midsize SUV market, there are sporty, three-row SUVs for a similar cost-of-entry to the Durango, like the Ford Explorer ST-Line or Mazda CX-90.
Sources: Dodge, Stellantis Media, Edmunds